Settling in to your new home in the first year – some useful practical tips.
We have built new homes for thousands of families over the past fifty years, and we have been privileged to share in one of their most important milestones. Moving into a new home is an exciting time, but sometimes all that excitement can lead to a few important chores being overlooked. With that in mind, here’s a quick guide to settling into your new home.
Take care of the basics right away
There are a number of things you need to do immediately to make sure you’re ready to hit the ground running. This includes things like notifying your change of address to your employer, your bank, your GP, your insurance company etc. And don’t forget to update your electoral register address. You should also sort all your utilities at this stage – everything from bin collection to your TV and broadband service.
It is also well worth investing some time in getting to know the systems that drive your home, whether it’s your boiler, your heating, your electricity or your gas. Learn how to turn off the water in case of emergency, and also locate your fuse box. And while you’re at it, make sure to test your smoke alarms – they’re literal life savers.
Your first few weeks of living in your new home is also a great time to develop a mini directory of all the services you’re likely to need – to include phone numbers for a good local plumber, electrician and handyman. And why not include numbers for local takeaways plus your nearest hospital and Garda station?
One last thing to consider is opening a box file to store all warranties, manuals and guarantees in one place. It’s amazing how quickly these important documents can go missing.
Go exploring your new community
Don’t wait for people to introduce themselves, go chat to your new neighbours and start the process of putting down roots. And while you’re talking to them, look for recommendations for the best local pharmacy, post office, pubs, restaurants and coffee shops. They’ll also know where the best parks, and playgrounds are.
If you like to walk or jog, taking a different route each day is a brilliant way to get your bearings and to discover what’s off the beaten track. Also sign up to local pages on social media, it’s an amazing source of information on what’s going on in the community.
A final way to quickly become part of your new community is by joining local sports clubs or fitness classes, or maybe try volunteering with a local charity organisation.
Make arrangements for your little people
If you haven’t already done so, make sure to register your children with local schools, and also check out local childcare, creches, after-school clubs. Find out where the local libraries, community centres and sports clubs are located. There are probably a number of local parents groups on social media, and they’re a very simple way of staying in the know.
Keep a record of that very special first year
And one more thing to do to mark your new home. Take a series of family photos of the early days in your new home, it will be priceless to look back on in years to come! Maybe open a digital folder for all your photos in the first year, recording everything from your first garden party to the first time your kids invited the friends for a sleepover. Or maybe even your first Christmas in your new home. And as the first year comes to a close, it’s a great time to reflect on just how far you’ve come in settling into your new home and your new community.